No. 1 Tennessee Falls to No. 5 Florida, SEC Road Series Streak Ends

Gators snap Lady Vols' 9-game SEC road series winning streak in close 3-2 victory

Mar. 22, 2026 at 10:43pm

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No. 5 Florida defeated No. 1 Tennessee 3-2 on Sunday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, Florida, marking the Lady Vols' first Southeastern Conference road series loss since 2023. Florida took an early lead with a solo home run from Taylor Shumaker in the first inning, then extended their advantage to 3-0 in the fifth. Tennessee responded with a two-run home run by Gabby Leach in the sixth, but Florida's Keagan Rothrock held on for the complete-game victory.

Why it matters

This series win against the top-ranked team demonstrates Florida's strength and could significantly impact their standing within the SEC and national rankings. Maintaining this momentum will be crucial as the season progresses.

The details

Florida took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on a solo home run by Taylor Shumaker. The game then became a pitching battle, with Florida's Keagan Rothrock and Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens both turning in strong performances. The Gators extended their lead to 3-0 in the fifth inning, scoring on walks, a fielder's choice, a wild pitch, and a single. Tennessee responded in the sixth with a two-run home run by Gabby Leach, but Rothrock closed out the game, allowing only two runs on five hits.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 22, 2026 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, Florida.
  • Tennessee's nine-game SEC road series winning streak dated back to 2023.

The players

Keagan Rothrock

The Florida pitcher who earned the complete-game victory, allowing only two runs on five hits.

Karlyn Pickens

The Tennessee pitcher who took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits over 4.1 innings.

Gabby Leach

The Tennessee player who hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to narrow the gap to 3-2.

Taylor Shumaker

The Florida player who opened the game with a solo home run in the first inning.

Sage Mardjetko

The Tennessee pitcher who entered the game in the fifth inning and pitched 1.2 frames without allowing a hit or walk.

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What they’re saying

“This series win against the No. 1 team demonstrates Florida's strength and could significantly impact their standing within the SEC and national rankings. Maintaining momentum will be crucial as the season progresses.”

— Samantha Carter, Editor-in-Chief, Newsy-Today.com

What’s next

Tennessee will return home to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium on March 24 for a game against Tennessee Tech.

The takeaway

This close contest between two top-ranked SEC softball teams highlights the competitive nature of the conference and the importance of maintaining focus and momentum throughout the season. Florida's ability to secure a series win against the No. 1 team demonstrates their own strength and potential to make a deep postseason run.